A&P approves requests

Three separate applications from the Grand Prairie Center, the Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie and the Stuttgart Kiwanis Club were approved.

Leigh Kreimeier, lkreimeier@stuttgartdailyleader.com

The regularly scheduled meeting of the Stuttgart Advertising and Promotion Commission got underway 25 minutes late Thursday after waiting to complete a quorum. Members Donald Stephens, Amanda Holsted, Mital Patel and Jim Craig were the only members present and they approved three applications — three separate events from the Grand Prairie Center, the Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie and the Stuttgart Kiwanis Club.

Melanie Baden, director of the Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie, asked for $2,049 to be split between printing brochures, placing an advertisement in Inviting Arkansas and purchasing T-shirts for race participants during the annual German Heritage Festival held in May. The money broke down to $200 for the brochures, $874 for T-shirts and $970 on the advertisement.

"Some of this is trial and error," Craig said. "Just because we are approving this does not guarantee it for next year."

The group will receive a report after the festival on how many out-of-town guests were estimated to attend, which is what the Stuttgart A&P Commission is hoping to attract.

Two other applications were brought before the Commission. Holsted, representing the Stuttgart Kiwanis Club, asked for $200 to place an ad in the upcoming Stuttgart Kiwanis Club presents Cash's White River Hoedown program. The ad will be a full page promoting upcoming events in Stuttgart and passed out to all that attend the performance.

With only four members present Holsted voted on her own application. The measure was passed unanimously.

Holsted also brought the third and final item, representing the Grand Prairie Center in this application. She asked the Commission for $1,204.20 to place an ad in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. The three-inch-by-five-inch ad space is black and white and will run one time only in the Thursday weekend special before the Biloxi Blues performance at the Grand Prairie Center, Holsted explained.

Having never tried advertisement in the state's largest newspaper she wanted to try to see if a different type of audience is reached. At the GPC when tickets are purchased and before they can be printed the buyer has to indicate where they heard of the performance, Holsted said. With that information she is hoping to report back to group on how many attended due to the advertisement.

Craig made the motion to approve the advertisement, but amended it after some discussion from Patel. Patel felt the advertisement was too expensive for black and white only and it being a one time ad. He proposed the group only approve 75 percent of the request at $900.

With Holsted voting again on her own measure the application passed unanimously. The next Stuttgart A&P Commission meeting will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, at Stuttgart City Hall. Applications can be requested by contacting any A&P Commission member or by contacting Chairman Holsted at (870) 673-4201 Ext. 1896.

The guidelines to receive money from the Commission include the need for overnight guests, bringing in visitors from over a 50-mile radius, having a multiple day event and letting the money received from A&P be supplemental only.